My Two Favorite Things This Week

I have discovered a fabulous new nail polish, Essie Splash of Grenadine. It is a fun, playful summer color and I am loving it on my toes right now!

I have also found an even more fabulous new book, Priceless How I Went Undercover To Rescue The World's Stolen Treasures by FBI Art Crime Founder, Robert K. Wittman. This book is one of the best I have read in a long time! It is a fast paced collection of tales of undercover adventures and interesting historical artifacts and major works of art. This book is truly incredible; it is engaging, interesting, and truly eye opening into the world of stolen art and antiquities. You will be swept up in the stories and you will actually learn a lot of interesting art and history without feeling like you are being lectured. I am a big art nerd with a degree in art history, so this book is a dream for me, but I truly think anyone would enjoy it just as much. Check it out from your library or pick it up on Amazon, you will thank me later!

Lounging Around The House

Ah to be a cat. Must be nice. Especially on a Monday morning. 

I am especially jealous this morning since I have worked every day for the past two weeks straight. At least this is the last week to go before I get a nice weekend off. But it's nice to know that while I am off working, Hank is keeping himself busy... or at least well rested.

I am very much looking forward to joining Hank doing this in the morning...

Happy Monday!!!

A Little Vera

I adore Vera Bradley, how could you not love such bright, bold prints in any color palette?

My absolute favorite Vera Bradley accessories however are not the token duffel or tote bags, but their large make up bags. First of all they are HUGE, which I appreciate because although I tend to stick to the same couple of products daily, I like to have a selection to choose from because you just never know when you'll need to whip out a smokey eye. One of my girlfriends, LB was the first to convince me to try a Vera make up bag instead of using whatever I happened to get free from my last make up purchase. Gotta love those free gifts with purchase! Well LB had it spot on! I LOVE these make up bags and I've never gone back! Not to mention the obvious fact that they are so pretty, and pretty things make me happy to just look at them! If you've never tried one, I highly recommend them, and they make great gifts!

Happy Friday Everyone!!!

When Preppy Gets Scary

Yes, this is really an embroidered tote bag with a black lab. Yes, I own this. 

I could not resist, it looks just like our dog, Elvis. I know it is incredibly pathetic, but I love it. It is pretty large, very soft, and really quite neutral so I do think I will actually use it. The only way I could love this more is if it had a Parker and a Willard on the other side.

I never thought I would ever say this, but it's so preppy it is almost tacky.

Steve Madden Makes Pretty Slippers

If there is one thing Steve Madden really does well, it is womens' slippers!

Things I look for in a pair of slippers:

-PRETTY

-Soft

-Comfy and cushy

-Did I mention pretty?

I cannot resist a good pair of girly slippers. I loved the cheetah ones so much that I also got my mother and sister the same pair. The blue ones with the jeweled bows are some of my absolute favorites, but Hank loves to try to attack and eat the bow every time I wear them. #catladyproblems

The Cutest Cards

"One shoe can change your life!" -Cinderella

"Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world!" -Bette Midler

My mother has this wonderful habit of collecting cards. Greeting cards, birthday cards, thank you cards, wedding cards, welcome new baby cards, we're moving cards...it does not matter what king of card you need, my mom has it! Her card collecting habit has saved me more than once. I was over at my parents' house last weekend and my mom had a box of cards out on the table in the living room. Naturally, I started paging through them and I cam across these gems! I could not help myself, I had to take them home with me, they were just too perfect! How could you not love a card with a fun shoe quote and such fabulous detail. I do not even know if I will be able to actually send these to a friend because I do not think I can part with them. Of course if the perfect occasion arises, I will have to suck it up. There is nothing better than the perfect card for the perfect person/occasion. I am at the moment on the hunt for the perfect birthday card for my Dad's upcoming birthday next month. Wish me luck!

Country Apple

It's slightly embarrassing but true; I still prefer the same body wash I did as a 13 year old. Many things about my bath and beauty routine have changed over the years, but I still adore my Country Apple Shower Gel from Bath & Body Works. It smells amazing! I may even on occasion use the body lotion and body spray too... 

Meet Molly, The Queen of the Statement Necklace

I am a huge fan of statement jewelry. I have found the key to styling an outfit with a statement piece is to just stick to one stand out piece, and my favorite statement pieces are necklaces. My good friend, Molly has truly embraced this trend and has amassed quite the collection. Every time I see her, she is wearing a big, beautiful necklace that perfectly coordinates with her outfit. It really is impressive, and I finally had to ask about her collection. When she laughed and told me she has an entire box full of statement necklaces, I just had to shoot them. Molly was nice enough to showcase her beloved necklaces for me, needless to say it was a blast!

When I asked Molly if she had to choose a favorite, she chose these three:

This is why we are friends. I couldn't pick just one favorite either!

Love her! Thank you Molly for letting me showcase your statement necklace collection!

Cat Eye

 

I am a big cat eye fan! I just love a little wing extending off the end of my eye. I am a big fan of the MAC Penultimate Eye Liner, it is the perfect liquid liner pen. It's so easy to use, it stays on all night, and once it's dry it is not going to smudge all over the place. I have been loyal to this liner pen for the last couple years and it is a clear favorite of mine when I am going for a night out. Hank is lucky, he's always got a nice winged liner working for him!

KEEP CALM

AND

LINE ON

Why Law School Didn't Work Out...

BCBG (Old, I bought them 2 years ago, when I should have been studying for 1L finals.)

I guess I should explain that I dropped out of law school two years ago. Ok these BCBG zipper pumps are not completely to blame for me not sticking with law school. However, the fact that I was ordering and playing with shoes instead of studying is very telling. As Elle Woods' father explained, "Law school is for people who are boring, and ugly, and... serious. And you, Button, are none of those things." No offense to all of those law students and lawyers I love, and there are many!

Give A Little

Lime Green and Hot Pink Nine West Jojus Pumps

You can find these babies, both size 9, at the Neighborhood Club Thrift Shop in Grosse Pointe soon!

I have been trying to get myself a bit more organized. Clearly from my blog so far, my shoe collection is a large part of my clutter, ok in all fairness I am kind of a shoe hoarder. Admitting it is the first step. Trying to do something about it is the second, and here I am trying to go through my collection and get rid of the pairs I do not wear. Although the process is a little scary, and even a little sad, the thought that they will all find new happy homes is keeping me going. Yes, I agree, I am way too attached to my shoes. I have decided to give a few select pairs to specific friends and my sister, and then I am giving a large collection of beautiful, hardly or never worn shoes, to the Neighborhood Club. I have decided to spread the shoe love, so here we go! I have only gone through about half of my collection so far, but I have already gotten rid of MANY pairs.

Saying goodbye to these, they are destined for a good home where they will actually be worn.

Never been worn Audrey Brook suede and patent leather pumps, size 9. 

These babies will also be at the Neighborhood Club shortly.

I am really proud of my progress so far, and it is really helping that my pretty, neglected shoes could benefit a good cause instead of gathering dust in the back of my closet. Now, back to spreading the shoe love!

The Last Free Weekend Of The Summer...

Wedding And Shower Gifts For Upcoming Weddings

This past weekend was action packed, but a great time! I have been stressing over finding outfits for back to back weddings next month. Since this weekend was the last time I had off until the first wedding, my Mom and I set up a date for a Saturday afternoon at Nordstrom. I was really impressed with the dress selection at Nordstrom, and found a dress I LOVE! Better yet, it doesn't even need alterations, which never happens to me, so it was meant to be. I will save the unveiling of my perfect dress until after the wedding, but trust me it is worth the wait! As impressed as I was with the dress, I was even more impressed with the lingerie specialist, who hooked me up with the perfect foundations for under my dress. It was the most fun and stress free time I have ever had dress shopping. My Mother was even nice enough to buy me a beautiful pair of Via Spiga pumps to go with it. I have the perfect outfit from the undies to the pumps set to go, so now I just have to put an outfit together for the second wedding...

While I was at Somerset, I figured it would be good to swing by a couple stores with Josh where our friends had registered. We were able to find both shower and wedding gifts in one shopping trip, which I personally consider impressive. After an entire day of shopping, it was nice to spend Sunday hanging out with our families. We headed over to Josh's Grandmother's house for a family party, and then swung over to my parents' house for a little while. We capped off our Sunday night with the latest installment of Real Housewives of New Jersey.

Here are some fun weekend details:

The yummy taffy Josh busted me for eating before breakfast...

The best cherries from Ninos! Thanks Dad!

Hank got some fun, new toys this weekend!

You cannot see his favorite new toys, the mini mice, because he hid or destroyed all six of them within 48 hours...

Couples Who Love Their Shoes Together, Stay Together.

Going Out Shoes

Work Out Shoes

Pool Shoes

Yes, this post did make me think of Meg Ryan in "You've Got Mail" when she is in Fox Books discussing the childrens' shoe books.

This month marks my 3 year anniversary with Josh, and over the course of our relationship I have turned him into quite the shoe lover. I credit myself with the fact that he now prefers much more european looking mens' dress shoes. I am very much looking forward to spending this weekend with Josh, especially because it is the last weekend of the summer where I do not have to work nor do we have a wedding to attend. We do have a couple things planned for the weekend, but I am really looking forward to just spending some time together. Thank Goodness it's Friday!

Happy Weekend!!!

Supino's, Eastern Market

Supino's in Eastern Market

My Nanny Nell told Josh and I about Supino's downtown a couple weeks ago. She said she had found this great pizza place that makes pizzas to order with fresh ingredients and amazing combinations! Since she told us about it, Josh and I had been meaning to go and finally made it over there over the weekend. I had some BIG expectations, since my Nanny does not give rave reviews easily, and this place did not disappoint! I was a little nervous about going to get pizza on a hot day, but the inside seating area was nice and cool even though there were hot pizza ovens in close proximity. There was also quite a group of customers on such a hot day, so I figured it had to be good! It was incredible!

LOVED the screen door with Italy on it!

Group seating like this makes me nervous, but we were lucky enough to get seated with a nice group. Unfortunately we barely spoke because we were all too busy stuffing our faces!

Margherita Pizza

Pepperoni Pizza

I was so impressed with this place, it was the best pizza I've had in a long time and I could not stuff my face fast enough! Although my brother, Mike was not as impressed as I was, and he made this loud and clear embarrassing enough (What does he know? Believe it or not, this is the same kid who prefers to give lectures about table manners at the dinner table, admonishing those around him.), I could taste the difference in a pizza made fresh just for me! That Margherita pizza was the best I have ever tasted, and I cannot wait to go back! If you find yourself around Eastern Market, definitely stop into Supino's!

Against my better judgement, this is a really unflattering photo of me enjoying/inhaling my pizza.

Bunny Slippers

Sometimes while shopping I come across something totally ridiculous and impractical, but I just have to have it. More often than not, the impractical item is a pair of shoes. Ridiculous shoes. This compulsion struck again last weekend during a trip to Crystal Crate & Cargo.

I actually bought these white bunny slippers. What is probably sad is that I am more appalled that I bought white slippers, (I mean they will be all over the floor and they are white....ew) than the fact that they are bunnies. I am sure I look like a 5 year old in them, but I just don't care. They are adorable, so soft, and so comfy! Yes, they are ridiculously impractical, but so am I. LOVE THEM!

All The Girly Details

Josh and I have been discussing moving in together since he finishes law school in the spring. We have no immediate plans at the moment, so our moving in together is far enough off that we have only considered needing more space than a one bedroom apartment. While looking around my own apartment recently I noticed my decor, and all of my little accoutrements are so girly! It's one thing to have floral throw pillows on the couch and pink and green bedding, but literally all of my decor and little accessories are girly and mostly pink.

My girly playing card box.

My girly playing cards.

Girly picture frames.

I even own a pink scrunchy, don't judge. I don't wear it in public.

Girly in the bathroom.

Yes, even hot pink girly earplugs.

As my girl Miley once said, "Pink isn't just a color, it's an attitude." Hopefully for our future apartment, Josh embraces this attitude. I feel like the word, "compromise" is in my future...